Monday, June 02, 2008

UPDATE - IRAN30 May 2008Afghan journalist freed after 86 days in detentionSOURCE: Reporters sans frontières (RSF), Paris(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders welcomes the release of Afghanjournalist Ali Mohaqiq Nasab, the editor of the monthly "Haqoq-e-Zan"(Women's Rights), on 29 May 2008, after being held for 86 days, in anintelligence ministry prison, in the holy city of Qom (150 km southwest ofTehran)."Nasab was held arbitrarily for three months," the press freedomorganisation said. "The conditions were difficult and he was in solitaryconfinement for most of the time. He has been released conditionally and isnot allowed to leave the country. We urge the authorities to drop thecharges against him."A refugee in Iran for the past 24 years, Nasab was arrested on 4 March inQom, where he lives. The arrest was carried out by intelligence ministrypersonnel, who had an order issued by a special court for the clergy."According to the arrest warrant I was shown, I was accused of havingsuspicious relations with foreign embassies but the interrogation to whichI was submitted was mainly about my journalistic activities and thearticles published in 'Haqoq-e-Zan'," Nasab told Reporters Without Borders.Copies of the resettlement requests he had sent to the Office of the UnitedNations High Commissioner for Refugees, which were found during a search ofhis home, were also used to accuse him of "publicity against thegovernment" and "publication of false information."Nasab spent 81 of the 86 days in solitary confinement, and suffered kidneyand chest pains that were not treated.Updates the Nasab case: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/92406For further information contact Hajar Smouni, RSF, 47, rue Vivienne, 75002Paris, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 78, fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51, e-mail:mideast@rsf.org, Internet: http://www.rsf.orgThe information contained in this update is the sole responsibility of RSF.In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit RSF.

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